Solar energy collector and method of solar energy collection

Abstract

A solar energy collector has a liquid coolant path communicating with a liquid storage tank in a closed liquid loop and an air coolant path communicating with the enclosed space of a structure to be heated. A method of collecting and utilizing solar energy includes the utilization of a solar energy collector having both a liquid coolant path and an air coolant path wherein at selected times when the collector temperature is greater than about 10° to 20° F. above the temperature of the liquid in the storage tank both the liquid and the air coolant paths are utilized to heat the liquid in the storage tank and directly heat the enclosed space, respectively, and at other times only the air coolant path is utilized to directly heat the enclosed space.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of collecting and utilizing solar energy comprising the steps of: positioning a solar energy collector in the path of solar radiation, the collector having separate liquid and air coolant paths, the liquid path communicating with a liquid storage tank in a closed loop and the air path communicating with a heat receiving area;   at selected times when the differential between the collector temperature and the temperature of the stored liquid is in excess of a predetermined value, forcing air through the air path to directly provide heated air to the heat receiving area and simultaneously pumping liquid through the liquid path to raise the temperature of the liquid in the tank; and   at selected times when the temperature differential is less than the predetermined value and the collector temperature is greater than the temperature within the heat receiving area, forcing air through the air path to directly provide heated air to the heat receiving area while not pumping liquid through the closed loop.   
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predetermined value of the temperature differential is in the range of about 10° to 20° F. 
     
     
       3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heat receiving area is the enclosed space of a structure to be heated.